{"id":543,"date":"2020-11-21T10:55:05","date_gmt":"2020-11-21T15:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anytimecocktails.com\/?p=543"},"modified":"2020-11-21T12:54:01","modified_gmt":"2020-11-21T17:54:01","slug":"shaken-or-stirred","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anytimecocktails.com\/shaken-or-stirred\/","title":{"rendered":"Shaken or Stirred? When to Shake or Stir a Cocktail"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shaken or Stirred<\/h2>\n

Your cocktail ingredients will be the major factor in whether it is to be shaken or stirred<\/strong>, but you always have your own personal preference.<\/p>\n

You, as the bartender, will need to decide how you want your finished drink to appear. Take the classic dry martini for an example.<\/p>\n

Many people order it shaken, and many order it stirred. Either way is perfectly acceptable, but the appearance will be completely different. If the martini is shaken, it will no longer have the silky texture from gently stirring and mixing the gin and dry vermouth.<\/p>\n

No matter how you make your mixed drinks – shaken or stirred, you will need to have the correct bar equipment on hand.<\/p>\n

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Shaken Cocktails<\/h2>\n

How to Shake a Cocktail<\/h3>\n
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Knowing how to shake a cocktail is an art and involves a discussion just as the question “shaken or stirred” does.<\/p>\n

Keep a Firm Grip<\/h4>\n

No matter the type of shaker you are using, the number one rule is keeping a firm grip on it. Nothing is more embarrassing than letting your shaker cup fly out of your hand and spill everywhere, or worse, hit someone with it. Shaker cups can get quite slippery, especially ones made out of tin or copper, as they will condense as the drink becomes ice cold.<\/p>\n

High-Quality Ice<\/h4>\n

High-quality ice is a must when making any cocktail. Using subpar ice will not only take away from the overall appearance of your drink, but it can also impact your shaker. See our article on cocktail ice types<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n

Low-quality ice will tend to break while shaking, and that can either dilute your finished drink, or small ice chips could pass through the strainer and end up in the finished drink.<\/p>\n

Shake Time<\/h4>\n

How long you shake a drink will vary depending on the cocktail, but a good 10-second over-the-shoulder shake is a general rule in bartending.<\/p>\n

Smile<\/h4>\n

This shaking tip can not be overstated. Bartending is an art form, and people like to be entertained. So put on a show while shaking and smile constantly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Which Cocktail Types Should Be Shaken?<\/h3>\n

Cocktails that should be shaken contain dairy, cream liqueurs, fruit juices, eggs, syrups, or sour mix. By this list, you can see that it is anything that is of a heavier consistency.<\/p>\n

Both shaken or stirred cocktails will get chilled in the process of making it, but a shaken drink will get ice-cold. There are many types of shaker cups available, and we explain them in detail in our\u00a0Cocktail Shaker Types<\/a> article.
\nAny shaken drinks that involve adding soda (like our Blackberry Moscow Mule<\/a>) must be shaken before the carbonated beverage is added; otherwise, the drink will come out flat.<\/p>\n

List of Best Shaken Cocktails<\/h4>\n